Now we wait to see if man is charged, says her Jo Yeates' friend

Friends and neighbours of Joanna Yeates today welcomed the arrest and hoped it will be the breakthrough that cracks the case.

Emma Brooks, 25, who studied and lived with the landscape architect at Writtle College in Chelmsford, called it a positive move.

"It is good news but it's a case of waiting to see if they have enough to charge the man," she said.

"At least the police have got something now. It shows that the investigation is still going strong - but to be honest I never thought it wasn't. These things take time. DNA evidence and things like that take a while in any investigation. We just have to sit tight now."

Peter Stanley, who owns a seven-bedroom house in Canynge Road next door to Ms Yeates's building, said he was surprised to hear of the arrest.

Mr Stanley, 56, was visited by police investigating the murder after it emerged that he helped to start Greg Reardon's car when he suffered a flat battery on the night she went missing.

He said: "This has come as a bit of a surprise. A friend called me this morning and told me the news."